I will confess upfront to a love for Japanese anime -- mainly because in Japan animation is treated not as a kids' genre but rather as a stylistic choice. I enjoy far more anime than I do American animation, but that's also because there's just so much more to choose from in anime. This year, there were a couple of good American animated films,

A federal jury found a Poway defense contractor guilty today of plying former Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham with more than $600,000 dollars in bribes in exchange for millions of dollars in government contracts. Reporter Seth Hettena has more.

A federal judge in San Diego has sentenced Mexican drug cartel leader Francisco Javier Arellano Felix to life in prison without the chance of parole. Arellano Felix pleaded guilty to running a criminal enterprise and conspiring to launder money. KPBS reporter Amy Isackson has the story.

A new study reveals California has a major shortage of health professionals like dental hygienists and radiology technicians. The report says the state just isn't producing enough graduates to fill current or future needs. KPBS reporter Kenny Goldberg has the story.

San Diego votes on Monday whether to prohibit the use of alcohol at city beaches. We'll hear from a councilmember who's pushing for the ban, and we'll invite our callers to tell us whether they believe restricting the use of alcohol is the best thing to do.

The Chargers collapse in Minnesota, Major League Baseball suspends Mike Cameron for 25 games, Joe Torre takes the helm for the L.A. Dodgers, the San Diego State Aztecs mount a major comeback to beat Wyoming, local NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson takes the NASCAR Nextel Cup lead and trade speculation surrounds the Lakers' Kobe Bryant. We analyze the latest sporting news with Lee "Hacksaw" Hamilton.

The wildfires that recently devastated San Diego County destroyed close to 1,600 homes. Now, families are dealing with rebuilding their homes and their lives. And working through the insurance claims maze can be daunting. We'll talk with experts about how to work with your insurance company. And we'll provide tips on making sure your home is adequately insured for future disasters.

There have been some criticisms of the state's response to the catastrophic fires in Southern California. But by most accounts, at least one person has emerged from the tragedy with an image boost: Governor Schwarzenegger. Marianne Russ reports from Sacramento.